A Hays County jury has ordered a $46 million payout to the parents of Andrew West, an oil field worker who was run over and killed at a DeWitt County well site in 2019. Jurors found truck driver Gerald Walker and his employer, John Dotson Trucking, negligent, assigning 90% of the blame to Walker and 10% to the company. They also concluded that both were operating for the benefit of, and under the control of, Colorado Materials Ltd. The panel awarded $20 million for West’s pain before death and $13 million each to his parents for loss of companionship, as family members and lawyers packed the courtroom to hear the verdict after a relatively short deliberation.
Jury deliberation and case details
After about four hours of deliberations, the Hays County jury returned the $46 million award, according to The Texas Lawbook. The lawsuit is styled Jimmy West and Judy Jaso, individually and on behalf of the estate of Andrew West, v. Colorado Materials Ltd., Cause No. 22‑0306 in the 428th Judicial District Court. The trial lasted about a week and featured testimony about how the collision unfolded and what West endured in the minutes before he died. Jurors were asked to sort out negligence and divide responsibility among Walker, his trucking company, and Colorado Materials.
What happened at the well site
According to trial evidence described by CBS Austin, West was struck after signing a delivery ticket and walking away from a trailer at a Devon Energy well site on Sept. 4, 2019. Testimony indicated that Walker then accelerated and turned sharply, driving over West with the rear of his trailer. Walker left the scene and later returned at the direction of Colorado Materials officials, jurors were told. West suffered severe internal injuries and was later pronounced dead, and family members recounted his last words in emotional testimony. The narrative presented to the jury centered on whether Walker and his employer acted negligently in the crucial moments before and after the impact.
How the jury broke down damages
The jury set responsibility at 90% for Walker and 10% for John Dotson Trucking and found that both were operating for the benefit of Colorado Materials, according to a news release from Rusty Hardin & Associates. Jurors awarded $20 million for West’s pain and mental anguish before his death, along with $13 million each to his parents, Jimmy West and Judy Jaso, for loss of companionship and mental anguish. Lawyers for the family urged jurors to consider evidence they characterized as recklessness and to pay close attention to the amount of time West remained conscious after the crash. The resulting $46 million verdict brings a high profile to a case that began with his 2019 on-site death.
"No amount of money can bring Andrew back, but this jury sent a clear message about the value of his life," attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement reported by Rusty Hardin & Associates. Daniel Dutko, who led the trial team for the plaintiffs, told jurors that the evidence, including testimony about West’s final minutes, should guide their damage calculations. The West family attended much of the weeklong trial, as jurors weighed emotional accounts from loved ones alongside technical and physical evidence. Attorneys for both sides offered competing views on who truly controlled safety at the well site and where legal responsibility should land.
Defense side and next steps
The defendants were represented by Michael Magee and Mark Appling of MehaffyWeber, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to The Texas Lawbook. For now, the judgment stands, although the defense can still file post-trial motions or pursue an appeal, procedural moves that are common after large civil verdicts. How much of the $46 million the family ultimately collects could depend on those next steps, as well as on any insurance coverage or indemnity arrangements among the defendants. Court records list the case as Cause No. 22‑0306 in Hays County’s 428th Judicial District Court.
Broader safety context
The verdict spotlights the risks that come with oil field work sites, where heavy equipment and constant truck traffic are part of the daily routine and transportation incidents remain a leading cause of workplace deaths. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that transportation incidents are the top event in fatal occupational injuries, and industry reports note that oil and gas extraction ranks among the highest in fatality rates across major sectors. Safety advocates say cases like this underscore the need for clear chains of command and thorough training when third-party drivers operate on active well pads. Employers and site operators can face significant civil exposure when juries conclude that outside contractors were acting for their benefit and under their control.
For the West family, the jury’s decision is both recognition and an imperfect remedy. Their son is gone, and lawyers on both sides will now decide how aggressively to fight over what happens next. The verdict and court filings are part of the public record in Cause No. 22‑0306 in Hays County, and any post-trial motions or appeals will play out there. The jury’s conclusion that third-party drivers and their carriers can be treated as acting on behalf of site operators may prove to be the most far-reaching legal takeaway for companies that rely on heavy equipment deliveries. For now, the verdict closes a painful chapter for Andrew West’s family, even as questions about collection and possible appeals remain unresolved.
